Grain-binder



12 Sheets-Sheet ;1.

0. W. LEVALLE -Binder.'

Patented April 27; 1880.

. Grain No. 226,865.

-PEIERS. PHOTuUTQAgGRAP MER. WASHNGTON. D C.

' 12 Sheets-Sheet 3. O. W. LEVALLEY. Y

Grain-Binder. No. 226,865. Patented April 27,1880.

Fig 25.

MPEKERS; PMOMUTNOGRAPMER, WASHXNGTON. D C.

0. LEVALL'EYI' 12 SheetsSheet 4-.

. Grain-Binder. Y I No. 226,865. Patented April 27,1880.

NPEIERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPNER, WASHINGTOMFD. d4

12 Sheets-Sheet 5.

'O. W. LEVALL-EY.

Binder.

Grain- No. 226,865. Patented April 27,1880.-

r w m m j N.PETERS. PNOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASNRNGTON. D. c.

12 Shets-S1 1eet 6.

G. W. LEVALLEYx.

Grain-Binder.

No. 226,865. Patented April 27, 1880.

f r gafl N: PETERS, PHUTO-LITNOGRAPDER, WASHINGTON, D O.

12 Sheets-Sheet 7. U. W, LEVALLEY.

Grain-BinderL Patented April 27, 1880.

fwfm I N PEIERS, PNQMTROGRAPNEK, WASHINGTON. D 0

12 Sheets-Sheet 8. 0. W. LEVALLEY.

' Grain-Binder. No. 226,865. Patented April 27, 1880.

| I I I N PETERS, PHOT0 LITNOGRAPHER, WASmNGTON, D C.

12 Sheets-Sheet 9.

,0. W. LBVALLEY.

Grain-Binder.

No. 226,865. Patented April 27,1880.

W m I :w N 34% MR m b M3372 es sag NPEI'ERS. PllOTO-LITHQGRAPNER.WASHINGTON. D C.

' 12 sheet -sheet 10.- O. W. LE'VALLEY.

Grain-Binder. No. 226,865.. Patented.April 27,1880.

Wizfiwsseg'; I Jimmtor.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-IJTHDGRAFNER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

i 12 Sheets-Sheefll. 0. W. LEVALLBY.

Grain-Binder. I No. 226,865. Patented April 27,1880.

N-PETERS. PnOmqTHOGRAPHEH, WASHINGTON, D C

. 12 Sheets-Sheet l2.

0. W. LEVALLEY.

Grain-Binder.

No. 226,865. Patente d April 27,1880.

N-PEI'ERS. momvu'ruocmlguan. WASHINGTON. u c

PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER \V. LEVALLE Y, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Pmt No. 328,865, dated April 27,1880. I Application tiled December 30. 1878.

To all whom it may concern Bcitknown that I, CHRISTOPHER. W. LEVAL- LEY,of St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Bindera; and Idohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to which it nppertnins to make and I ,use the sume,reterenccbeinghad to the accompanying drawings, antTto letters of referencemarked thereon, which form it part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved muchine for binding grain, and thevarious feuvtnrcs oi which it consists shall be hereinafter fully setforth. Figurclis a real elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a troutelevation. Fig. .l is an end no view of the devices that move theneedle. Fig.

4 is u top-plan view of the looping and tying devices. Fig. 5 is aninside view of the main driving devices. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectiontaken on line w 1!, Fig. 4. Fig. 7 iss sec- 15 tionulview on news, Fig.4. Fig. 8 is an end view of the looping, tying, and griping devices.Fig.9is a top view of the knife-tripping lever detached. Fig. 10 is anenlarged view of the looping bend and tube. Fig. 11 is 30 a top view ofthe trains that supports part of the binding mechanism detached. 12 isatop view of the shitting-lever detach, Fig. 18 is ntop view of thewhole binder-frame. Fig. 1-1 is a detail view, showing the mode ofattaching the binder-items to the harvester. Fig. 15 is a sectionthrough the shell: of the cord-holder. Fig. 18 is a ongitudiual sectionthrough the looping devices. is a transverse section on line 9 g, E 16.Fig. 4o 18 is a bottom view of the cord-ho Fl 10 has section on line :1,Fig. 18. Ft 20 a view otthc tension devices and denrm detached. g. 21 isa vertical on of the cont-receptacle. Fig. 22 is a view otthc hot- 5 tomtour shield. Fig. 28 illustrates the various poths thllowcd by theneedle. Fig. 24 is an elevation of the needle-flame detached.

Fig. 29 is a top view of the cord-holder cnti la Figs. 81 38 and 26 showthe so pawz tekcn by ao c'ofi ctsuccssslve a in the operation ofbinding. Fig. 2tiisa cw ot the band when tied and cut. Figs. 27 and 28show modifications of the cont-spindle.

In the drawings, Arepresents the ground drivingwheel, which operates thevarious 5 5 parts of the machine through appropriate gearing a a a. Arepresents the main supporting-frame of the machine.

The grain-elevator frame is composed of the uprights A A, secured to theframe A A, the inclined supports ALA, and cross-pieces A A. Thecross-pieces A More extended beyond the braces A sufllciently to supportthe driver's plank or plat-form A, on which is mounted the seat A. 6

0- represents the lower elevator-roller, and a the upper, operated inany oniinury or desired manner. a a are the wire rods ordinalilyemployed with elevators of this class.

A supplemental frame for the attachment-ct 7c the binding mechanism isformed by extending the cross-pieces A A, and by supporting saidcross-pieces with uprights A, and by joining the two ends of the frameby a brace, A".

B B' are bracket-hooks attached to and we tending upwardly from theframe A A A.

The binder-frame consists of the longitudi- 1 nal bars 0 C 0', a rearbracket, 0, a front bracket, 0, and intermediate hrnces or supports, 0'and 0'. (See Figs. 1 2, 4, and 13.) 8c

The upper bar, 0, is mounted in the brackethooks B B in such manner thatthe trout bracket, 0, shall be outside of the hook B and the rearbracket, tr, shall be inside oi hook B. Do it this the bar 0 is extended8 a suitable t istsnce beyond the bracket 0, Fig. 13. The bracket piecesor frames 0 C O 0' are preferably made Y-shaped, and one of the! of eachis attached to each of the ion to nnlbnrsOO'O'. go

o a rack secured to hurt) by means of collsrs, one of which is placedinside the hook B, the other outside, permitting the whole binderfl'smcto slide longitudinally the distance be tween said collars, as shown.

The lower Esrtot thebinder-trome is loosely nttschod to t e main trainsin such Inunnerns to be held steady and firm, but at the same no permita longitudinal shitting or adjustment of the binder relative to themainframe. loo

c is n guide-piece protecting below the bar 0' and behind the end sillor git-t, A, of the main frame. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) c'c'arefriction-rollers mounted upon stud-shafts attached to the bar D is ashaft mounted upon the rear end of the machine, its lower end havingbearingstn a socket in the hook -piece B, and its upper end passingthrough and rotatingin a disk or circular head, D, Figs. 1 and 13, whichdtsk I is notched upon its periphery, and is secured IO to the machinein any suitable manner, preferably by means of an arm (caster made withthe disk) which is bolted to the frame.

D is a pinion keyed to shaft D, and meshing with rack 0. dis a cranksecured to the upper end of the shaft D, above disk D, within convenientreach of the operator. By these devices the operator is enabled toinstant] adjust the position of the binder relative to the elevator, soas to accommodate the mechanism so to ion or short grain,

from ing thrown (by the elevating of the machine at either en so fartothe front or to the rear us to not be properly surrounded by the cord. 1

11 represents a spring'lever and dog, wherewith the crank may be lockedin any position upon the disk I).

E, Figs. 1 and 12, is a short shaft mounted in an extension of thebracket-piece B, and at its forward end mounted in the bracket-frame 0.E, Figs. 1 and 12, is a sprocket-wheel mounted loosely upon this shaft,but adapted to engage with the shaft, and to rotate it by means of lugsor pins secured to the shaft and notches upon the hub of the.sprocketwheel which clutch said pins or lugs. Any ordinary or desiredclutching device may be em loyed. The rear end of the hub of wheel E sgrooved to receive the forked end of a shipping-lever,E. This lever ispivotedtothe frame at e, and at its inner end is connected by a link, a,to a bell-crank lever, which is actuated by the foot of the operatorwhen he desires to throw the binding mechanism out of In order to keepthe gaged with the shalt E tentionally disengaged, aspring e", employedin connection with thaleverto force 8;?! Olild forwalt'til.

sapnprojee ng'thron hshaftE and adapted to engage with a mg, 0, on theend oftbc shipping-lever when the sprocket-wheel B is disengaged fromits shalt, so as to lock 5 the of the bindin mechanism in the soeit usby them oecnp isengagemenhuud prevent theirheing thrown :mt at properrelation by the falling of the wet e.

The necessity of this is well known to those praetimlly nainted with agrain-binding machine, as it as been found that the needle and needlemechanism will, by their weight, thrown outof gear. 1'), Figs. 5 and 13,is u spur-pinion keyed to splroeket-wheel E onw on they are not inor toprevent the grain.

at the instant of is mute the binding mechanism alter-they are Th shaftE, meshing with and driving the spurwheel F. It is secured to the shaftby means of a feather, so that the binder-frame 18 free to tnove backand forth without altering the 10 position of pinion E relative to thewheel F. This pinion is held in place against the wheelby'means of acollar, 0, extending from the bracket 0, which prevents it from slippingin one direction, its inner face, overlapping partially the inner faceof wheel F, which prevents it from slipping in the other direction.

E is a dog pivoted to bar 0 (see lfig. 13) orother suitable place, andengaging with the teeth of pinion E in such manner as to prevent anybackward rotation of the pinion, but to freely permit forward rotation,to prevent accident to the binding mechanism from a reversing of themovement of the pinion.

This spur-wheel F is the main driving-wheel of the binder. (See Figs. 1,4, 5, and 6.) It is attached to the rear end of a shaft, F which ismounted at one end in the rear brac at, C, and at the other end in thebracket 0. The wheel is furnished upon its outer periphery with acontinuous gear meshing with pinion E, and is rotated continuously bysaid pinion when in operation. f is a segmental flange and by a flange,e", on 7 upon its inner face, between the ends of which 5 flange thereis placed a segmental gear, f, of the same radius as the flange.

F is a flange or rib on the inner wheel, for a purpose to be set forth FF F are cams or lugs on the inner face of the wheel for operating thevarious rocating parts of the binder. Of these the camF is nearest thecenter of the wheel, and the cam F the nearest the periphery. The cam Fis at one end of the segmental flange or rib F.

I will now describe face of the the devices by which vel or bundle ofgrain is formed and I hold the cord and pass it around the The shaft Fcarries at its inner or forward end amutilated gear-wheel, G, see Fig.2,thll lines,aud Fig.4, ottedlines,)a opted tomesh with anothersimilarly-mutilated wheel, G, in such manner as to produce onerevolution of wheel G at every revolutionof the wheel G, and yet permitit to remain idle during {:11 of said letter revolution. The wheel Gseemed to and rotates a shaft, 0*, which is mounted at its forward endin and extends thmugh the bracket 0. G (see Figs. hand 8 a crank-armupon the mrward end of sui with a the whic band shaft, having crank-pinG, provided Motion-roller.

H is a bell-crank lever pivoted to the frame above the shalt G. e lowerarm of the fivarhi s ipratlriigidt'lwith akpefugermzinrvillnear o necran -p n procates, sssistedin its movements by the friction-roller. eupper arm ofthe bell-crank lever B is ivoted to a link, In, which, inturn, is pivot to an arm, 5', of the needle-frame.-

recip- I is a bar or rod, pivoted to 'the crank-pin G carrying at itsupper end a cogged rack, 2', which meshes with a spur-segment, I.

I is a guide-frame, (carrying a friction-roller,) adapted to hold therack i firmly against the segment I, so as to be in constant meshtherewith whatever be the position of said segment. This guide-frame issupported by an arm, 41, carrying at its lower end a sleeve or eye, 6through which the bar or rod I passes, and which permits the bar I andthe arm 45 to reciprocate relative to each other.

The segment I is adjustably secured to a shaft, K, which is mounted in asleeve, K, which is supported upon an oscillating frame as follows,reference being had to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 24: K is a bar mounted uponthe shaft G2 by means of eyes or sleeves It k. K is an upright orbracket, carrying on its inner side the arm h, towhich the link It ispivoted, as above described, and at the top supporting the sleeve orshaft-support- K.

The parts K, K is, and K are, in practice, cast in one piece of meta-l.

L is the binder-arm or needle, adjustably secured to the shaft K. Nearits outer or point end it is provided with the usual eye and cordpulley, at I.

From an examination of the drawings it will be seen that one revolutionof the main driving-wheel F'will, through the wheels G G and crank-arm Gproduce one forward-and-back oscillation of the frame K K K and onereciprocation of the rack t and segment 1, the whole operating to swingthe needle forward and back once, and carry it down and up about shaft Konce.

It will also be seen that, owing to the abovedescribed peculiarconformation of wheels G and G, the vibration of the needle-arm aboutshaft K is intermittent, and that the blank or mutilated parts of thesaid wheels are so related that the needle will be at restthat is, willnot be actuated by either the frame K K K or by the shaft K-when itspoint is at the end of its downward stroke, and, further, that thelength of time the needle is at rest will depend upon the length of theblank or mutilated space on the periphery of said wheel G relative toits radius.

It will be further seen that when the needle is commencing its downwardstroke the crankpin G is at the top of the slot h", and will, on accountof its shorter leverage on arm H, move the frame K K through a greaterare than when the crank-pin G is at the bottom of slot It", and itsleverage is longer-that is, the frame will carry the needle through apath when it is rising different from the path it (the needle) followswhile descending, the path be ing clearly shown in Fig. 23.

This construction gives to the needle in its downstroke a draggingaction upon the straw on the table, and in its upstroke causes it towithdraw smoothly without pushing or otherwise moving the straw.

Again, after the needle has entered the grain andis performing the firstpart of its outward movement, the crank-pin G is moving in a slotsubstantially concentric to shaft G and therefore the needle-frame mustbe at rest until the crank-pin moves in the lower part of slot 71., whenit will force the frame outward, to assist the shaft K in causing theneedle to gather the grain and form the bundle.

When the machine is in operation the cut grain is delivered over theelevator in a continuous stream upon the bimiler-platfbrm, the strawsbeing more or less tangled and interlaced. In order to separate thegavel completely from the loose straw I construct the needle of apeculiar shape, as shown in Fig. 1, having an angular projection orguard, L, on the upper side, substantially L-shaped in its edge outline,the angle or bent part being so situated that when the needle isdragging forward the bundle it cuts off the stream of grain and forms aclear space behind the needle of a dimension suitable to prevent thestraw from interfering with the gavel while it is being bound. Thisguard may be either a supplemental arm attached to the needle, as shown'in Fig. 1, or it may be cast solid with the needle itself, if desired,either as a continuous web or as an open arm. Thus a single needleoperates both to compress the gavel and as a cut-off" or separator.

In order to guide the needle accurately during its reciprocations Iprovide the machine with two guide-pieces, l l, Fig. 13, extending asuitable distance above the grain table or platform and running from thechute-board Z to the outer edge of the binder-frame. These guide-piecesare held in proper relation to each other at their inner ends by meansof a block or spreader. If desired,they may be slightly flared at theirupper ends, to insure that the needle shall always enter the guide; butI have found no difliculty with them when placed in vertical positions,as shown.

L Figs. at and 13, is a V-shaped socket, secured to the bar 0 or othersuitable part of the frame. When the point of the needle is at thelowest position-that is to say, when the tying devices are at work Withthe cordthe needle is held by the V-shaped socket from swaying orlateral movement, which might cause the cord to be jerked out of thedesired position. (See Fig. 8.) This is a matter of great importancewhen the machine is being used upon rough or uneven ground.

A groove, I, (Fig. 4 in dotted lines,) is formed in the under face ofthe needle, to leave the cord free to move about the bundle when it isbeing drawn around it and to prevent any strain upon the cord.

M (see Figs. 2 and 21) represents the twineholder, attached to themachine at any suitable point, preferably at the front end, upon astandard, M.

Hitherto in the. operation of grain-binders much difiieulty has beenexperienced from the fact that the twine must be wound upon spools orreels, which necessitates either the additional cost of the spools or agreat amount of labor on the part of the operator to wind the cord onthe spools.

Moreover, when the ordinary spools are used the twine is liable to bedamaged by rain or other moisture, the cii'eet of which is to soften thecord and render it unfit for use.

The twine-holde 1 which I have devised and shown is preferablycylindrical in form, and it may be of any desired length, it beingpossible and practicable to make it of this form large enough to carrycord sufli'cient for a days work. The bottom of the vessel issubstantially open, there being one or more strips or crOss- 'neces tosupport the twine. It is made thus open at the bottom in order that anydirt that may enter can freely drop out, or straws or other foreign andundesired material.

The top of the holder is provided with a hinged cap or cover, m, throughan aperture in which the cord passes out to the needle. In thisreceptacle several balls of cord are placed at once, the end on theoutside of each ball being tied to the end on the inside of the ballnext below. This enables the operator to employ twine as it iscommercially prepared and sold in ordinary balls.

M is arod or shaft passing through the balls and holding them together.It may, if desired, be cylindrical, and secured to the bottom crosspieceof the holder M by a ball-a-ndsocket, Fig. 27, or other universal joint;or it may be made of some flexible material, Fig. 28, so that the shaftshall not be rigid, but have a flexible play at the top. NVhen this rodis employed the cord unwinds evenly and smoothly from the ball withoutany tendency to form knots, or kinks, or wads, as will be readilyunderstood without further explanation.

I have also shown and used for this purpose a loose tapering shaft withits larger and heavier end at the bottom.

The cord is passed from the twine-holder to the needle L through therear end of a guidearm, M pivoted to the upright M. (See Figs. 1, 2, and20.) Requisite flexibility of movement is secured to the guide-arm bymeans of the spring m.

m m are stops on the upper end of the upright M to limit the movementsof the guidearm M M is a tensionarm pivoted to a lug or car projectingfrom theinner side of the standard M. It carries at its upper end acurved plate, mi, provided with one or more apertures, through whichpasses the cord. The upper end of the standard M carries a fixed clamping-plate, m, and the cord passes between this and the movable plate m Mis a thumb-screw passing through arm M engaging with a screw-threadedsocket in standard M. m is a tension-spring bearing against the pivotedarm M and the head of screw l 1 The operation of these last-describeddevices in adjusting the tension of the cord will be readily understood.

on m are pins projecting from the inner side of the guide-arm M, whichenables the operator to instantly increase or diminish the tension onthe cord by passing it around or removing it from one or more of saidpins.

At m m are shown cross pins, passing through the pins m", to hold thecord securely thereon. These pins m and or operate also to straightenthe twine if any kinks or twists should occur therein, and deliver itsmoothly to the needle.

I will now describe the devices for grasping, looping, tying, andcutting the twine after it has been placed around the bundle. The frameupon which these devices are supported and mounted consists of abed-plate, N, a crosspiece, N, and standards N N (preferably cast in onepiece,) attached at the front end to bracket and at the rear end tobracket 0 Figs. at and 11.

Q R S are bent levers (shown in Figs. 4 and 6) for operating thereciprocating parts of the binding mechanism. They are pivoted to a rodor shaft, R mounted at the rear end of the frame N N.

The bent lever S is composed of the camarm T, pivoted to rod R and therocking bar T, carrying at its outer end a vibrating arm, T which isalso pivoted to the rod R the whole being so placed tha-tthe arm T shallbe inside and the arm T outside the operative parts of the tying andcutting mechanism.

The bent lever B is formed with a horizontal rocking bar, a, a leg, U,pivoted on rod it, (outside the arm T,) a leg, U pivoted to the innerend of rod R, a cam-arm, U operated by cam F on wheel F, and a vibratingarm, a, which operates the hooked tying-rod.

The lever Q is formed with a vibratin g part, V, pivoted to rod R a bentcam-arm, V, operated by cam F on wheel F, and a lug, 11 by which it isconnected with the looping-tube.

c is a pin projecting from the side of arm V beneath the arm U Thecam-arms of these bent levers Q, R S are furnished with friction-rollersat the points where they engage with their respective cams.

y is a set-screw inserted in the arm a at the point where it bearsagainst the parts which it reciprocates, so that in case of wear in anyof said reciprocated parts the point of contact may be adjusted to throwthe reciprocating parts the necessary distance.

From an examination of the drawings it will be seen that while thedrive-wheel F is performing that part of its revolution which occurswhen the needlev is rising and falling the ends of the arms T and U arein the open space between the rib F and flange fon wheel F, and at thesame time the end of cam-arm V is on the inside of rib F (See Figs. 5and 6. When wheel F has been turned suificiently far, the innermost cam,F will first engage with arm V, throwing it up and pushing the IIO armor lug c back. The pin 1; at the same time engages with arm U so as tolift said arm U high enough to engage with cam F At the instant that thearm V is disengaged from cam F the arm U begins to engage with cam F andto throw back arm a the end of arm V being so much lower than the end ofarm U that said arm V will pass under cam F and rib F (See Figs. 5 and6.)

As soon as arm U-is disengaged from cam F it is thrown down, and at thesame time arm '1 begins to be raised by cam F and to throw forward thearm T (See Fig. 6.) After the arm T disengages from cam F it falls downagain into the space between the flanges f and F. To insure its completereturn I place a spring, t, Fig. 6, between the rocking bar T and thebracket-frame O bearing against the bar T, so that uneven ground orother cause shall not accidentally cause the arm T to swing up.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6,7, 0 is a shaft mounted in theframe,carrying at its forward end a perfect spurpinion, O, and at its rear enda mutilated wheel, 0 having cogs of the same number as those in thesegmentf on wheel F, and having also a blank space on its peripheryadapted to ride upon the flange f. Thus the wheel 0 and shaft 0 receiveone complete revolution at each revolution of the drive-wheel F.

P,Figs. 4, 7, and 16, is another shaft mounted inthe standards N N, andparallel to shaft 0. It is rotated by means of a pinion, P, meshing withthe pinion O, the pinion P having one-half the number of teeth thatpinion O has, and therefore giving its shaft P two revolutions to everyrevolution of the wheel F.

Shaft P, extends a short distance beyond bracket N and carries anenlarged head, 1). (See Figs. 4., 8, 10, and 16.)

p is a hook projecting eccentrically from head 1). The free end of thehook is made concave, a s shown.

Shaft P is hollow, and through it passes another hollow shaft or tube,Q, which is arranged to pass through the head 1) eccentrically. (SeeFigs. 8 and 10.) When this tube or shaft Q projects through the head itsouter face fits into the concave end of hook p, and together they form atight eye, as shown in Fig. 16, for holding the cord, as will beexplained. At its rear end this shaft Qcarries acollar or flange, q, anda cage or hollow cylinder, q. Between the flange and cage a saddle, (1is secured to the shaft Q. This saddle carries an arm, g which is bentaround so as to be substantially parallel with shafts Q and P. The arm(13 is attached to the lever-arm '0 It will be seen that by moving therear end of the bent lever Q up and down the tube Q will be reciprocatedin shaft P.

The saddle g carries a rod, (1*, which crosses the plane of theneedle-path, and which at its forward end is hooked or bent into apeculiar shape, as shown at q, to assist in guiding the cord into thehook p. This guide-rod will, of course, be reciprocated with the tube Q.

R is a small inner rod reciprocating through tube Q. It is provided atits forward end with a hook, 1", adapted to seize the cord and to pullit through the loop formed by hook p and tube Q. This rod extends backloosely through the collar q, the saddle g and cage q, and carries atits rear end an enlarged head, 1*, to which is attached a dog, 0, on theside opposite to the hook 1', for a purpose to be specified. The head 1'rests against the vibrating arm a of lever B.

It will be seen that as the rear end of crankarm It is raised or loweredthe hook-rod R is reciprocated in tube Q.

R is a coiled spring around the rod R, hearing against the head 7" andthe cage q. r is a collar secured to the rod It within the cage (1, sothat the rod can move a short distance back and forth independently ofthe tube Q, while the friction of collar r against the front end of thecage q (when they are held in contact by spring R will cause the rod Rto revolve. a a are stop-lugs on the frame N N, one on each side of rodR, projecting up high enough to engage with the dog 1*. Lug it preventsthe hook r from rotating after it grasps the cord, and lug 01/ stops thehook in proper position to let the knot slip off readily.

S is a short hollow shaft supported in standard N of frame N, andcarrying on each side of the standard a collar or head, (shown at S Swhich prevent the shaft from moving longitudinally. (See Figs. 4 and18.) The head S carries a plate, S", which is provided on its under sidewith a groove, 8, preferably dovetailed.

s is a slot through the plate S, and s is a pin-hole formed in its innerface. This plate is one of the clamping-jaws that hold the loose end ofthe cord, and it is provided with an arm, 8 projecting forward to guidethe other clamping-jaw, to be described.

S is a rock-shaft mounted in standard N and extending through the hollowshaft S. It rotates the shaft S with it by means of the arm 8 whichpermits it to reciprocate at proper time therein. S Figs. 7 and 4, is acrank-arm secured to shaft S by means of a feather, which preserves aconstant engagement between them, but permits the shaft to reciprocatethrough the crank. S is a pitman, pivoted at one end to crank S and atthe other to the pinion 0. These lastdescribed parts are so related asto produce at every revolution of driv e-wheel F an oscillation of shaftS, and with it the cord-holder, through an arc of about one hundred andtwenty degrees.

The shaft S is thrown forward by means of a bar, W, (see Fig. 6,)vibrating with the bent lever S. [t is thrown back by means of a coiledspring, S bearing against the collar S and a collar, S rigidly attachedto the shaft.

3 is a set-screw inserted in bar W, and operatin g analogously to theabovedescribed screw y.

At its forward end shaft S carries a clam ping-plate, X, Figs. 4, 9, 18,and 29, hearing against collar S and to which the knife-holder issecured. There is a dovetailed groove on the under face, in one side ofwhich the bar 8 slides, and in the other side of which the knife is set,Fig. 18. \Vhen the two jaws or clamping-plates are together, thecutting-edge of the knife projects under the fixed plate 8, against apin, This pin is inserted in the under side of the fixed jaw, so as toenable the instant setting of the knife at the proper point without thenecessity of experimental adjustment. The knife shears against the edgeof the fixed plate to sever the cord.

a" is a tenon projecting from the face of the moving jaw X, and isadapted to fit into the slot or mortise s in the fixed plate. This tenongrasps the cord after it has been cut, tending to push it into the slotor mortise in the fixed jaw. The end of this tenon and the edge of theknife should be so adjusted that on the one hand the cord shall not becut so soon that the tenon cannot grasp it, and on the other that thetenon shall not bear against the tight cord too soon to permit the knifeto operate.

is a pin projecting from the face of the movable jaw, fitting into thehole .9 in the fixed jaw, and adapted to assist the tenon 00 in holdingthe cord which passes over this pin when the jaws are closed, Fig. 30.In order to prevent any gumming or other clogging of the faces of theclamping-jaws, I bevel the top edges, as shown in Figs. 18 and 29, so asto leave as little surface of contact as possible above the cord. Thelower part of the faces of the jaws will be self-cleaning from themovement of the cord.

The bar W, which, as above described, pushes forward the shaft 3*, ispivoted to the bent lever S, and has a horizontal heavilyweighted arm,W, Figs, 6 and 9. This arm W is pivoted thus so that it can bedisengaged from shaft S when the machine is running empty, or at anyother desired time. It is disengaged by the following devices: Referringto Figs. 4, 6, 7, S, 9, VV is a trippinglever pivoted to the under sideof frame NN. The front end is bent so as to form a crankarm, WV, theforward end of which lies across the plane of the needle-path, and, whenthe needle is down, just above its point. At its rear end it is bent toform another crank-arm, W which engages with the weighted arm V, andelevates it when the opposite end, XV, is elevated. Elevating the arm NVdisengages bar W from shaft 8*, as will be readily seen in Fig. 9. Inorder to lock the bar in its inclined position 1 pivot a latch, 10, tothe vibrating bar T, which engages with a pin, w, on bar WV, to hold thebar away from the shaft 8. At the proper time the latch is automaticallyraised by a pin, 2. (See Figs. 6 and 4.) This pin is inserted into theframe N, and is inclined so that as the cam F lifts arm T and throws armT forward the latch, which projects across the pin a slides upon itupward until it is disengaged from the pin w, whereupon the bar W isbrought again into line with shaft S by the weighted arm W. Instead of aweight, a spring may be used to return the bar to a vertical position.

Z represents the chute-board for delivering the grain to thebinder-plattorm. It is preferably hinged to the elevator-frame by meansof a bar, 2, and brackets z 2 Z represents the table or platform of thebinder. Z Z are vertical shields hinged to the top of theelevator-frame, one at the front and the other at the rear. e 2 areslotted brackets, through which project screw-rods carrying set screws,that bear against the brackets z, the whole adapted to adjust and holdthe outer ends of the shields to the proper points for delivering thegrain to the binding mechanism with precision.

Z Fig. 22, represents a bottom piece hinged to the rear shield, for thepurpose of perfectly covering the working parts of the binder when it isshifted forward.

Z Fig. 13, represents a shield secured to the upper edge of the rearguide-piece, l, for the purpose of throwing or pushing any loose wispsor blades of straw away from the knot ting mechanism and to the outsideof the hookbarq g, which bar, when it moves forward, carries said straymaterial entirely away from the operative parts of the binder.

Having thus described the construction and operation of the variousparts of the machine, I will now proceed to set forth their relativeoperations and the relative times of their movements.

When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the tyingmechanism is at rest, because the blank part of wheel 0 is riding on theflange f of wheel F, and the cam-arms of the bent levers Q R S arerespectively disengaged from the cams F F and F At the same time wheelsG and G are meshing together to operate the needle and needle-frame. Theneedle-frame is now at its outermost position, because crank-pin G is atthe top of slot h", and the needle is at its highest point, because therack i is at the endof its upward throw. \Vhile in this position thecord may be passed through the eye of the needle, and if the free end ofthe cord is then held in the hand of the operator or socured at anyconvenient point the machine will thread itself, as will be seen.

Supposing the drive-wheel F to be rotated in the direction of the arrow,it will be seen that the crank-pin G and lever H will be forced outward,throwing the needle-frame inward, as shown in Fig. 2, and at the sametime rack 2' begins to descend, carrying the needle down about shaft K.The frame is now, as shown in Fig. 2, at its innermost position, havingthrown the needle forward so that the point shall descend close to thechuteboard, and the frame will be at rest until the needle-point hasfairly passed through the platform, because, as will be seen in Fig. 2,

the crank-pin G is about to enter the curved part of slot h and whilemoving in said curved part of the slot it will not move the lever H.

Further revolution of drive-wheel F will carry the needle down until thepoint has entered the socket L as shown in Fig. 8. At the time the pointis secure in the socket the wheels G and G pass out of mesh, and theirblank spaces begin to ride upon each other, holding the nee,- dle atrest, the crank-pin G now being at the bottom of slot h" and the rack iat the end of its downward throw, as shown in Fig. 3, in which positionthey will remain until the wheels G and G again mesh. The path of thecord is now, as shown in Fig. 8 in full lines, from the guide-arm hidown along a groove in the back of the needle, then up through the eyeofthe needle, then back under the clamping-plates S X, thence up,through hook p, to the point where the free end is held.

At the time the wheels G and G disengage, the various parts of thelooping and tying mechanism begin their respective movements, which willbe shortly described; but I will set forth now only the movementsnecessary for the machine to thread itself.

When the drive-wheel has turned sufficiently to engage cam F with arm Tof bent lever S, said arm is raised and the bar W is thrownforward,sliding the shaft S through shaft S and opening the jaws of thecord-holder S X,which has been swinging inward, so as to permit the cordbetween the needle-eye and the hook p to pass between the jaws andacross the path of the knife-edge. When arm T is released from cam F thespring S forces shaft S back, causing the knife to cut loose the outerend of the cord and the jaws to grasp the newly-cut end. The machine hasnow threaded itself and is ready to operate upon a gavel. After the cordhas been grasped by the cord-holder in the manner described the loopingand tying mechanism is thrown out of operation, and wheelsGand G comeinto mesh. Further revolution of the drive-wheel forces inward the leverH and the rack i upward, the first resulting in an outward movement offrame K K the second in a simultaneous rising of the needle untilcrank-pin G gets to the top of slot h when the parts are again in theposition shown in Fig. 1. The path of the cord now taken is shown inFigs. 1 and 30.

From an examination of Fig. 23 (wherein the various positions and pathsofthe needle and its pivot or shaft are clearly shown) it will be seenthat when the needle is descending its pivot is thrown forward in orderto compel the needle to traverse the whole platform during its downwardmovement, but that when it is ascending its pivotis thrown backward, inorder that it shall withdraw from the platform without any traversingmovement. The needle now descends again into the straw, this timeinclosing a bundle, which it surrounds with cord, (being assisted in theprocess of separation by the separator L,) and carries it out-ward untilits point again enters the socket L where, as before described, it isleft at rest by the disengagement of wheelsG and G. As the gavel isswept outward both ends of the loop of cord (the holder end and theneedle end) are pushed together into the hook p, as shown in Fig. 31.

At the instant that the needle-point enters socket L and wheels G and Gdisengage, cam F on wheel F begins to engage with arm V of bent lever Q,raises it up, throws arm V forward, and slides tube Q, through head p,said tube forming, with hook p, a tight eye around the strands of thecord. As soon as the cord is thus inclosed the pinion 0 begins to meshwith segmentf, and, through piuions O P to rotate shaft P, which shaftcarries with it hook p and tube Q, the teeth on the pinion beingrelated, as before described, to produce two revolutions of the hook andtube at every revolution of pinion 0 One revolution of the tube and hookforms a complete loop in the strands of the cord.

At the time that pinion 0 begins to rotate the tube and hook it alsobegins, through crank S and pitinan S (see Figs. 4 and 7,) to'swing thelower ends of the (JOIil-liOltllllg jaws forward, thereby supplying theslack cord necessary to tie theknot without increasing the strain on thecord around the bundle, Figs. 32, 33, and 25.

As soon as the loop is formed the cam F begins to engage with arm Uraising it up and pushing forward rod It until the hook 7 projectsthrough the inner end of tube Q. The hook-rod is rotated byfriction-with tube Q until the dog 1' strikes the lug a, which holds thehook 7 toward the two strands of cord it is to graspthat is to, say,toward the cordholder and needle-eye. (Shown in Fig. 16.) Immediatelyafter the hook p and tube Q, have made theirfirst revolution the twostrands of the cord outside of the loop that has been formed slip fromthe outside of book p (made sloping and smooth) into hook 'I, thecordholder S X swinging at the same time toward the knottiug mechanismto guide the strands into said hook. (See Fig. 33.) At the same instantarm U is disengaged from the cam F, and the spring R forces back thehook i, dragging in with it the ends of the cord through the loop aroundthe tube. As the rod It moves back it draws with it, by means of collarT the tube Q, which, as it passes through head 1), slips the loop fromthe end ofthe tube, which immediately tightens around the strands carried by hookr. Just before cam F permits hook r and tube Q, to moveback, the cam F begins to engage with arm T and to throw forward bar V.This pushes forward shaft S and opens the cord-holder, permitting thecut end of the cord to pass out with the gavel, and the strand that runsthrough the needle-eye then slips between the jaws across the path ofthe knife, as shown in Fig. 25.

The only step now remaining is to cut the cord, which is done, when thecam F disengages from arm T, and the spring 8 forces (See Fig. 32.)

the shaft S back and pulls the knife along the bottom edge of plate 8.After it is thus cut the cord, before it can spring out from between thejaws, is caught by the tenon a," and clamped tightly between thejaws,passing over pin As pinion O has not yet quite passed outof mesh withthe segment f, it causes a part of a revolution of shafts P and S thelatter swinging the jaws S and Xoutto the position shown in Figs. 4 and30, and the former turning hook p so as to open inwardly and downwardly,as shown in Fig. 8, and also turning hook r so that its point shall beup to readily permit the knot to slip off. The dog 1'' strikes againstthe lug n, and insures that it shall stop with the point up. The wheel Fhas now revolved far enough to pass out of mesh with pinion 0 thusleaving the tying mechanism at rest, and the wheels G and G come intomesh to again withdraw and elevate the needle. The complete bundle nowdrops from the table.

Inasmuch as the clamping-jaws swing i11- ward to feed to the knotter theslack cord between the knotter and thejaws, and inasmuch as they let thecut end (which they have been holding) escape close up to the bundle, itwill be seen that there can be no waste cord what-- ever, the completeknotbeingshown in Fig. 26.

If the machine should at any time run emptythat is, if the needle shouldat any time descend without a gavelthe elampingjaws will not open to letthe cut end of the cord escape, but willoperate as follows From an eX-amination of Figs. 8 and 30 of the drawin sit will be seen that the cordis held by the clamping-jaws so thatit shall run out from their upperoutside edge, and also that when the needle is entirely down, and whenno gavel is being held, the line of the cord is around on the inner andunder side of the needle, then up through the eye to the top of theclampingjaws, (see Fig. 8, dotted lines,) and, further, that thecrank-arm W of the lever VV lies across the needle-path outside of theclamp ing-jaws, and hence that when the needle-eye carries thetightly-stretched cord out beyond the said lever-arm XV, it (the cord)will raise the arm, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8, and, bythemechanism before described, throw the bar W outof the line ofshaft 8,so that during this revolution of wheel F the shaft will not be forcedforward to open the clamping-jaws, but will only be swung forward andback by the crank S and pitman S The swinginginward of thejaws lowersthe line of the cord, so that it no longer holds up the tripping-lever,but the latch w now holds the bar W away from the shaft S, and willretain it out of line until the bar W is thrown forward by cam F whenthe pin 3 will lift the latch and let the bar W fall into its verticalline, ready to push the shaft S at the next operation. The needle risesagain, the same end of the cord being still held by the jaws. But, onthe other hand, when a gavel is being operated on, and the needle isdown, it will be seen from Fig. 31 that the line of the cord is from theupper edge of the jaws down under the holder, up through the hook 1),around the bundle, down through thehook pagain,thence under thecord-holder to the eye of the needle, and that neither of the strands ofcord is high enough to lift the arm W away from shaft S, and hence thatthe cord will be cut at this operation, and a new end griped by thejaws.

The cord in .full lines in Fig.8 shows the path taken when the machineis threading itself. The needle has just come down, and the cord-holderis about to swing inward, open, cut, and grasp the cord. The dotted cordin the same figure shows the path taken after the machine is threaded,but when the needle has come down without a gavel, the cord lifting uparm W and therefore preventing the opening of the cord-holder. When theneedle has formed a gavel the thread takes the path shown in Fig. 31.

From the above description it will be seen that the binding-cord itselfforms one member in the combination of parts which trip the weightedlever W to throw out of action the parts which open the jaw of thetwine-holder and release the cut end of the twine, and that the positionof that portion of the cord which engages with the arm W ofthe lever WVis determined by the presence or absence of a gavel, so that the machineoperates automatically to cut the binding-thread whenever the cord hasbeen passed around a gavel, but retains a firm gripe upon the cutend ofthe cord when the machine is running empty-that is, when there is nogavel in proper position for binding. For this reason it may be properlysaid that the cutting and griping devices are actuated to release thecut end of the twine, and cut and sever the twine by reason of theengagement of the gavel with a portion of the mechanism which regulatesautomatically the operation of these parts.

By an examination of Figs. 10, 16, and 30 to 33, inclusive, and 25, itwill be seen that the end of tube Q, which receives the loop of twine,is placed wholly upon one side of the center of the shaft P, and rotatesabout said center in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 30;and it will be further understood by an examination of Figs..30 to 33,inclusive, and 25, that as the tube Q is being thus rotated around thecenter of the shaft Pit forms the loop almost exclusively from thatportion of the cord which lies between the center of the shaft P and thecord-holder without materially increasing the tension of the cord aroundthe bundle, this forming of the loop around said tube without increasingthe tension upon the bundle being due to the swinging of the tube towardthe cord-holder in an eccentric path, together with a correspondingmovement of thetwineholder toward the tube, the position of the cordduring the operation of tying being plainly shown in Figs. 30 to 33 and25, the result bein g that I am enabled to tie a satisfac-

